What is the best way to deal with your fears? How can you defeat them and ultimately improve your life? Many people spend their whole lives living in fear, but you can change your future if you act against your fears today! So check out our tips for overcoming fears and getting more out of life!
Fear Is Something We Created
The first stage of conquering your fears is all about recognizing them. Fear is a deceptive emotion. Firstly, you need to analyze its roots. You also need to know that no one is born with their unique fears. Fear is a basic feeling, and it’s something that we create.
Usually, fear awakens within us after a negative experience. Yet, regardless of the specific fear, it has a purpose of protecting us and keeping us safe from the traumatic experience that caused it. Of course, we are not implying that your fears are your own fault. Many people are troubled with fears due to past traumas from childhood. For example, that could include school bullying, being left out in social circles, or even family abuse.
Regardless of the cause, fear emanates from our subconsciousness. Then, our conscious mind eventually registers it. When that happens, our brain gives us information in the form of feelings, anxiety, and fear. What’s more, fear is not always a negative emotion. Our stone-age ancestors relied on it to stay alive in dangerous situations while hunting. So to start overcoming this emotion, you have to think about its cause while knowing that it exists in your mind for a reason.
The Paralyzing Effects of Fear
Since your mind responds instantly and quite harshly when encountering your fears, you can experience several paralyzing effects. Most people respond to their fears on an individual basis. That’s why it’s sometimes hard for psychologists to help each patient. Still, the most common fears have a set of shared effects.
When you confront a fear, your system usually slows down. It tries to get as far away from your fear as possible and enter a comfort zone. That could include anything from you running and hiding under the bedsheets to being completely paralyzed and non-responsive in high-pressure situations.
Generally, fear leads to the words “I can’t,” and it has a few other effects that can damage your body and mind. It mainly blocks us from taking risks and moving on with our lives. Hence, many people live out their lives while being afraid, and they never truly end up doing what they originally wanted to do.
In that way, fear crushes our dreams, and it can deceptively change our future. What’s more, studies have shown that fear can lead to health problems. That includes cardiovascular or gastrointestinal issues, ulcers, accelerated aging, and even reduced fertility or premature death. To top it all off, some fears are so subtle that you could see past their negative impact on your life and end up regretting it when it’s too late. That’s why you should tackle your fears as soon as possible.
Visualize, Use Your Imagination
One of the most effective treatments for fear is the use of visualization. This relaxation technique can help you counter your negative emotions. By imagining pleasant scenes and scenarios of a situation or idea, you can help lessen the effect of your fear. Remember the law of attraction? Well, the same principles apply to fear. If you visualize success or prosperity and if you give your fear a visual identity, you can defeat it.
Typically, visualization can help you train your brain to stop its responses to fear. You can use visualization to either imagine yourself in successful situations, or you can visualize your actual fears to confront them.
In the first method, you can train yourself to think that you can accomplish something. Then, your thoughts will define your actions. In the second method, you can create elaborate images of the situation or people who frighten you. With training, you will find out what’s going on when your brain enters the “fight or flight” mode. Visualization can activate your relaxation responses and cause a hormone rush in your mind to calm you down. You can practice this technique during fearful moments when you realize that you’re afraid. Conversely, you can visualize your fears daily to confront them and eventually defeat them.
The Law of Reversibility
The law of reversibility is considered to be one of the big breakthroughs in psychology. It states that your feelings change the way you act. By recognizing them and acting in accordance with them, you can create consistent and powerful actions.
When dealing with fear, you can use the law of reversibility to change your behavior. If you discipline yourself to repeatedly confront your fears with positive feelings, your fear will eventually disappear. In that way, the law of reversibility can help you develop the will and the courage to manifest your desires.
Of course, it’s impossible to conquer all of your fears. For example, if you’re afraid of tsunamis but live far away from water, that fear will not necessarily impact your daily life until you go on vacation. One way to start with the law of reversibility is to have a conversation with yourself and make a list. What kind of fears are stopping you from living your life and moving forward? Which ones are short-term phobias that do not necessarily harm your everyday behavior?
Deal With the Fear Directly
When we have fears based on past or present experiences, we usually deny them and try to sweep them under the rug. Living in fear while neglecting your problems will not help.
Like we’ve said, the only way to move forward is to face what you’re afraid of. However, we can’t tell you whether this will be easy or difficult because it all depends on your deepest fears.
Some people can teach themselves to quickly isolate and defeat their fears. Others with significant traumas could be so afraid that they might refuse treatment altogether. Either way, it’s highly advisable to visit a therapist. A therapist can analyze your individual responses to fearful thoughts and help you develop your own way of dealing with fears, no matter how big they really are. Alternatively, you can practice some of our other tips in your daily life and make positive changes.
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you want to face your fears, you need to know that this will require a lot of effort. It’s easy to get motivated and say that you’ll fight your fears but never truly deliver on your promise. Defeating your fears will require time, consistent actions, and a positive approach. Good luck!
